BHP Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $55.9 million (FY2024)
• Total Assets: $250.1 million (FY2024)
• Grant Range: $33,000 - $4.8 million
• Median Grant: $938,000
• Number of Grants: 53 (FY2024)
• Geographic Focus: Global (Australia, Canada, Chile, United States, and 65+ countries)
• Application Status: Does not accept unsolicited applications (invitation only)

Contact Details

• Website: bhp-foundation.org
• Address: 1455 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004-1008, United States
• Phone: 202-383-4443
• Email: [email protected] (for concerns about funded projects)

Overview

The BHP Foundation is a corporate foundation solely funded by BHP (the global resources company), established in 2013 as the successor to the UK Charitable Trust BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities. Since its formation, the Foundation has invested over US$433 million in grants, donations, and sponsorships. The Foundation's vision is "an equitable and sustainable future for people and planet," and it pursues this by blending "bold ambition, transformational partnerships and business acumen to catalyse new solutions to the world's most complex social and environmental challenges."

The Foundation operates under its own Board of Directors who define strategy, areas of focus, and activity. In 2016, it launched three Global Signature Programmes: Natural Resource Governance, Environmental Resilience, and Education Equity. As of October 2023, the Foundation was funding 38 projects across 65 countries. The Foundation takes an "investment approach," seeking to address root causes of systemic sustainability challenges rather than providing direct service delivery.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Natural Resource Governance Programme

• Focus: Reducing corruption along the natural resource value chain through research and field work advancing transparency, accountability, and participation
• Strengthening inclusive and effective governance, including improving consultation and consent practices for Indigenous peoples and local communities
• Partners include: Transparency International, Open Contracting Partnership (US$8 million investment), World Bank

Environmental Resilience Programme

• Focus: Conserving and sustainably managing large-scale, globally significant natural environments
• Building environmental and socio-economic resilience for land, biodiversity, and water resources
• Empowering Indigenous peoples and local communities who protect 80%+ of the planet's remaining biodiversity
• Partners include: Conservation International (US$50 million+ since 2011), The Nature Conservancy
• Example: US$6.5 million for the Lau Seascape Initiative in Fiji

Education Equity Programme

• US$52 million commitment to address global education disadvantage
• Partners include:
  • Education Endowment Foundation: £9.8 million (US$12.7 million) over five years
  • Brookings Institution Center for Universal Education: US$8 million over five years
  • Teach For All
  • UN Women

Country Programmes (Australia, Canada, Chile, United States)

• Focus on Indigenous self-determination, governance, and economic equity
• Youth development and breaking social barriers
• Water equity and resilience strategies
• Example: US$14 million partnership with Mamawi to support Indigenous business in Canada (2025)

Priority Areas

• Natural resource governance and anti-corruption
• Environmental resilience and conservation
• Education equity and evidence-based learning
• Indigenous peoples' self-determination and economic equity
• Water resilience and sustainability
• Systemic change addressing root causes

What They Don't Fund

• Individual applicants
• Unincorporated entities
• Direct service delivery (they seek systemic change)
• Projects outside their three signature programme areas
• Unsolicited proposals

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• Vandita Pant (Chair, since December 2023): BHP Chief Financial Officer, appointed Director in April 2022
• Charles Goodyear (Chairman): Receives $50,000 annual compensation
• Heather Brown (Director, since November 2023): BHP Vice President Human Resources, formerly VP Global Ethics & Investigations
• Carlos Avila (Director, since August 2022): 30 years experience in mining industry
• James Agar (Director, since November 2023)

Executive Leadership:

• Kristen Ray (Chief Executive Officer, since 2023): Previously Chief Operating Officer for three years, focused on optimising organisational performance and governance
• Maya (Chief Operating Officer, since February 2024): Previously VP Corporate Affairs, Asia at BHP
• Helen (Governance & Company Secretary, since early 2023)

CEO Quote: "Mamawi's ambition to transform support for Indigenous entrepreneurs and learners is closely aligned with the BHP Foundation's commitment to advancing economic equity for Indigenous Peoples. We recognise that for Mamawi to truly resonate, it must be Indigenous-led and grounded in Indigenous worldviews." — Kristen Ray, CEO

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The BHP Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organisations cannot submit applications directly; instead, the Foundation identifies and approaches potential partners that align with their strategic priorities.

The Foundation adopts an "investment approach," providing grant funding to innovative NGOs, think tanks, and national and international institutions with ambition to address root causes of social issues and shift underlying structures preventing equity and sustainability.

Eligible Grantees (when invited):

• Innovative NGOs
• Think tanks
• National and international institutions
• Civil society organisations
• Government bodies
• International institutions

Geographic Eligibility: Primarily organisations operating in Australia, Canada, Chile, or the United States, though global programmes fund across 65+ countries.

Getting on Their Radar

• Strategic Alignment: The Foundation specifically seeks organisations working on natural resource governance, environmental resilience, and education equity. Projects must address systemic, root-cause issues rather than direct service delivery.
• Existing Partner Networks: The Foundation works through networks like Ampliseed (environmental resilience) where they facilitate cross-learning among partner organisations. Being connected to current BHP Foundation partners may increase visibility.
• EITI and Extractive Industries Networks: The Foundation is a supporter of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Organisations active in extractive sector governance may be identified through these networks.
• Scale and Ambition: The Foundation seeks "potential game-changing projects" that can "drive transformational change." Grant sizes (median $938,000) indicate they partner with established organisations capable of large-scale impact.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only model, partnerships are developed through relationship-building rather than formal application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the Foundation does not maintain an open application process with tracked success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—no formal application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the BHP Foundation operates by invitation only, potential partners should consider:

• Systemic Change Focus: The Foundation explicitly seeks to "shift the underlying structures that prevent equity and sustainability." They do not fund direct service delivery; projects must address root causes.

• Transformational Partnerships: The Foundation emphasises "cross sector partnerships, bringing together the combined expertise of industry, civil society, governments and international institutions." Multi-stakeholder approaches are valued.

• Evidence-Based Approach: Their Education Equity programme has invested heavily in evidence ecosystems (Education Endowment Foundation, Brookings). Projects with strong research components and scalable evidence are prioritised.

• Indigenous Leadership: For country programmes, the Foundation emphasises Indigenous-led initiatives and self-determination. CEO Kristen Ray stated projects "must be Indigenous-led and grounded in Indigenous worldviews."

• Resources Sector Relevance: As a foundation funded by a mining company, programmes address "challenges that are directly relevant to the resources sector." Alignment with extractive industry sustainability is important.

• Examples of Recently Funded Projects:

  • Australian Indigenous Governance Institute: $807,000 for supporting self-determined governance
  • Open Contracting Partnership: US$8 million for procurement reform in resource-rich countries
  • Conservation International: Multi-year partnerships totalling $50 million+
  • Alto Mayo Project (Peru): Sustainable landscape model promoting conservation and climate resilience

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Invitation-Only Model: The BHP Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organisations must be identified and approached by the Foundation, so building visibility in relevant networks is essential.

2. Large-Scale Partnerships: With a median grant of $938,000 and maximum grants exceeding $4.8 million, this is not a foundation for small organisations or projects. They seek established institutions capable of transformational impact.

3. Systemic Focus Required: Direct service delivery is not funded. All projects must demonstrate potential for systemic change, addressing root causes of sustainability challenges.

4. Three Signature Programmes: Alignment with Natural Resource Governance, Environmental Resilience, or Education Equity is essential. Country programmes in Australia, Canada, Chile, and the United States offer additional pathways focused on Indigenous equity.

5. Resources Sector Nexus: As a BHP-funded foundation, relevance to the extractive industries sector is valued. Projects addressing mining community impacts, environmental governance, or resource wealth distribution have strategic alignment.

6. Network Connections Matter: Building relationships with current BHP Foundation partners (Transparency International, Conservation International, Open Contracting Partnership, Education Endowment Foundation) may increase visibility for future partnership consideration.

7. Long-Term Partnerships: The Foundation makes multi-year commitments (often 5+ years) to strategic partners, suggesting they value sustained relationships over one-time grants.

References

• BHP Foundation Official Website
• BHP Foundation - BHP Corporate Page
• BHP Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
• BHP Foundation - Charity Navigator
• BHP Foundation - GrantExec
• BHP Foundation - Cause IQ
• BHP Foundation Natural Resource Governance Programme
• BHP Foundation Environmental Resilience Programme
• BHP Foundation Education Equity Programme
• BHP Foundation Partners and Projects
• BHP Foundation Board
• BHP Foundation Team
• BHP Foundation $52M Education Commitment - BHP News
• Conservation International Alliance with BHP
• Devex - Meet the new global education donor: BHP Billiton
• BHP Foundation Canada Partnership News

Information accessed December 2025